What do you mean, Splatstick?

24 hrs short film contest entry using the word "Mordant", negative space, 2 zygotes, a psychotic clone who thinks she's the original and a broken plastic bird.

We didn't make it up. These were our cues.

• May 2002
• 5 minutes entry in the 24 hours short film contest.
• Soundtrack: some weird copyright free electronica music provided by the contest organizers
• Responsibilities: Producer/Writer/ Camera/FCP-G4 Editor

Context

• My first 24 hours short film contest.
• My first short movie ever.
• I led my first movie team ever.
• Boy did I learn.
• Boy did I have fun.
• Boy did we sucked.
• I was high for 2 weeks.
• I knew what I want to be when I grow up.

Crew

• Friends and roommates: Gerry, Lin, Guthrie, Jo Anne , Karl, Lisa, Russ, Bryce, Toni Manza, Mike Nelson.
• Clark Nicolai provided G4 and advice.

Story Notes

• I had forgotten to script and to shoot the blood scenes! The whole thing was supposed to be splatstick
• We had way too many characters to follow, and people didn't understand the 2 zygotes
• Script Continuity is a good thing. Thanks, Lin!!

Production Notes

• Lack of sleep killed me
• We didn't shoot the blood scenes untill 3 in the morning.
• My very first Transition!! When the parrot prop turns into the psychotic clone coming to kill the original.
• The credits were 5 seconds too late so we were disqualified.
• As I said, we sucked.
• Since then, I've heen hooked, and produced or help produce an short every 2 months on average.

Editing Notes

• I had no idea what I was doing
• A week later, I made a Director's Cut, about 9 minutes long

Sound Notes

• The copyright free soundtrack from the 24 hrs short film contest sucked.
• Later on, I found a sountrack from Simply Blue that fit perfectly.

Location Notes

• Vancouver Public Library, McLean's park in Strathcona, The Artist's Loft on Main and 5th (2 locations in perfect cross fire), Arcanum Books.